Hey all, I dislocated my right shoulder about 5.5 weeks ago while out quading, and Dr. says it was a stage 3 AC dislocation, so no surgery, just rest, and then exercise it after it doesn't hurt. Anyway, it has felt alright for the last 3-4 weeks, except I can't push/ pull much weight with it, sleep on it, and I've lost a bit of range. The thing that is bothering me the most besides no snowboarding this season is I have a bump where my collar bone meets my shoulder area, and this hasn't gone down a whole bunch. I'm worried it will always look like this. Has anyone else ever suffered a stage 3 dislocation, and if so, how did it end up?

I cant remember what level I had, but I think it was 3.... Pulled it out twice when I was bodysurfing (like an idiot). Ended up with a tear in my rotator cuff too

my shoulder is loose as hell now, I used to pitch but can't throw for shit anymore... from now on be careful and watch the movement of that shoulder; once it comes out, it gets easier to come out every time.

Bummer, that's unfortunate. I do a lot of snowboarding, watersports and dirt biking/ ATVing and all are pretty rough. It would really suck if I couldn't do these activities to the same level anymore, especially if I pulled it out again. It really sucked when it happened as I drive a manual, and was 7 hours out of town, so my wife had to drive her auto RAV4 down, and drive my truck back. Made me feel like a jack ass, and I would hate for it to happen again.

Know people with the same type of injuries and it is a rough injury. Some had surgery with some success but nothing like normal . One Friend tore it really bad and couldn't even put on a belt or button his pants until he had surgery . He can barley put his arm out straight now and that's about it. He does ride a street bike but takes it easy .

I am not quite sure what type of injury I had. I call it a dislocated shoulder but I honestly am not even sure. I was also riding my quad when it happened. Quad bucked me into the air and I fell shoulder first, which made my arm/shoulder pull down towards my legs as my body kept going foward (towards my head). Anyway, it hurt like a bitch and park rangers thought I had a broken clavical. Thankfully it wasn't broken. Doctor said I just had to let it rest and then go to rehab.

If I let me arm just hang, what appears to be my clavicle forms a bump on the skin. I have no pain or discomfort unless I try and do push ups or bench weights. I haven't done either in a long time because of it. I'll have to try push-ups again. Maybe it's 'healed' better since then.

Popped mine out in high school during a football game, the emt's popped it back in within a few minutes. Not sure what level it was but i remember not being able to do anything with my arm for about 1 1/2 weeks. Since then ive recovered full range of motion and full use.

OP im assuming your doing Physical therapy? I did plenty on mine to get the strength back, just keep with it

After the initial two, I was out for 4 weeks
I've popped it out 4 times since then...I'm an expert at popping it back in now

Just know your limits now. I've spent the last few years strengthening it back to where I have full range of motion back, just need to watch how I do things
All of this might not apply to you op, as you haven't torn your rotator cuff, just throwing in my .02

Just had my second surgery on my left shoulder 2 months ago. In my second week of PT and I can tell you it will never be the same. Rest rest rest, then slowly and lightly stretch and exercise it. I'd tell your Dr. You want an MRI. My original diagnosis was a severe sprain. Took almost 6 months to get an MRI done because they have to do a bunch of other tests first to show the insurance company that they tried everything else first. Turns out I had a tear that could only be fixed surgically. Tool 2 surgeries and now I am beginning to have some popping and instability during PT which means I may need a third. Shoulder injuries are no joke. Take my word for it... I've been off work since February. Demand an MRI, trust me. You never know. Also maybe request a cortisone injection. Most painful shot I've ever had in my life, but helps alot. I had 3 already which is the max in a 1-2 year period.

I have no idea what "level" disloactions I had...but I've had 20+. In my experience, once it comes out the first time, it's going to keep coming out until you eventually get it operated on. I had both anterior and posterior (front and back) dislocations, which required invasive surgery in the front and a scope in the front and back. My ligaments were all stretched or torn, which my doctor says basically happens the first time you dislocate it, and all you can do after that is repair it surgically. PT sucks, and the pain is intense during rehab...but it's worth it. Since then (8 years), I haven't had a single dislocation, and I can now play golf, swing a baseball bat, and do all kinds of things I could never do before.

The best thing you can do to postpone that is obviously strength training for the chest, shoulder, and back muscles, but in only helped me to a certain point. Good luck...they hurt like a bitch and are pretty frustrating to deal with.

I had 2 slight tears in tendons (no surgery needed) after popping mine out, and it hasn't been the same since. Seems like once a year I re-injure it and it's useless for about a week or so. And if it's cold or I sleep on it wrong it hurts like hell all day. And that's after months of rehab which should have fixed it......it's a bummer but you learn to live with it.

I should explain that I tore the ligaments that attach the collar bone to the shoulder. I've had my shoulder injured where it popped out at the socket, and that still bugs me, but this is much more serious. I've read that the ligaments never heal back, and that really disturbed me. When it was first x ray'd in my hometown they swore it was a stage 4 and needed surgery. I come back to Calgary and they re did x ray and tell me it's stage 3, no big deal, go home and rest. I'm not sure if they were just brushing me off or what? If I end up a gimp I'm gonna be hella pissed!

I've had 20+ dislocations each on both of my shoulders. Varied severity with each injury. The first one is definitely the worst and most important. Pain is the worst and your recovery sets the pace for any subsequent injuries. Best you can really hope for is 90% and that's if you stick to the PT and take your time. Surgery will likely only get you to 95% but if you tear it again after your hosed. I just live with it. Gotten to the point now that if i pop it out i'm back to normal in a week. Not to say I shouldn't be careful and continue my PT. But if you have any unusual bumps and severe range of motion issues see a specialist and get an MRI. Xray only shows if there's major damage and/or are close to being in/out of socket. MRI will show actual ligament position and muscle damage.
Good luck

Forced my shoulder out when I was lifting a year ago and jacked my labrum all up... worked daily on ROM no surgery. It took a long time but I feel about 95% now. Still bothers me a bit in certain situations

I mildly popped mine out about 14 years ago working on a car. The funny thing was that night I was out with a group of friends complaining about it and my friend said "put down your beer and relax your arm..let me take control of it". This lady was 5 foot 1 and 100 pounds..moved it around for 15 seconds and pushed it suddenly. Hurt like a bitch for 10 seconds and then the pain just flowed out of it. It turns out her son was prone to this and she had learned how to pop his back in, just have to know the right spot.

OP..not the same but my wife had an AC joint cleanout (major arthritis) 18 months ago. One thing you may have here is a frozen shoulder..after 5 months she started losing range of motion and found that was what happened. She decided to see if it would work out on its own and lo and behold it did.

One thing you might benefit from is pool therapy. We have a pool and her PT gave her a list of exercises to do..saved her from going to therapy and really helped her a lot. PM me if you want details on a pulley system to work at home on it too

OP you are fairly right, the ligaments take a long ass time to heal and they may never heal fully. Physical therapy can help but if it still hurts to move it and stuff, don't do therapy yet. You just end up tearing the ligaments again.

I have a permanent dislocated collarbone at the sternum and I tore all the ligaments in my neck/ shoulder when it happened 4.5 years ago. I can still feel ligament strain when I use the neck/ shoulder muscles and the dr says it will probably never go away. He said to also expect arthritis in any dislocated joint after time.

Found this thread after seemingly hours and hours of reading about dislocated shoulders on the internet...probably wasn't the best thing to do as my confidence is quite shot at the moment.

I dislocated my shoulder last night playing hockey. Unreal pain for about five minutes until it popped itself back into place. Going to see an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow to have my shoulder looked at. Quite depressing as I love playing hockey and lifting weights. Sucks to know that my left shoulder will never be the same again.

Not sure what damage was done until I get results tomorrow. Crossing my fingers and although I'm not a religious guy, I'm sending out a few prayers of my own.

Found this thread after seemingly hours and hours of reading about dislocated shoulders on the internet...probably wasn't the best thing to do as my confidence is quite shot at the moment.

I dislocated my shoulder last night playing hockey. Unreal pain for about five minutes until it popped itself back into place. Going to see an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow to have my shoulder looked at. Quite depressing as I love playing hockey and lifting weights. Sucks to know that my left shoulder will never be the same again.

Not sure what damage was done until I get results tomorrow. Crossing my fingers and although I'm not a religious guy, I'm sending out a few prayers of my own.

If you get the latarjet procedure you'll be back in full force by 12 months.
Thats what I have, its by far the strongest procedure out there.
I assume you probably tore your labrum like I did.

I was diagnosed with a torn labrum from the 3:00 - 6:00 position and I'm getting arthroscopic surgery on Thursday morning. Trying to stay positive and calm. I hear physical therapy is tough (pain-wise) but I'm up for the challenge.

Level 3 AC separation, and fully dislocated shoulder on another f'up. Still doing everything I like to do, but no throwing a football etc or my arm might follow the ball. PT taught me exercises to keep it strong, and other than an occasional ache, all good without surgery. I was told at my age (in 40's when both happened), surgery isn't the best thing to do and often will recover fine without. ymmv and hope it heals well.